Showing posts with label São José dos Campos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label São José dos Campos. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Fuji Dream Airlines' tenth Embraer E-Jet is Silver.

On March 5th, Fuji Dream Airlines [JH/FDA] took delivery of Embraer ERJ170-200/STD (E175) JA10FJ, their 10th aircraft. Painted and named Silver, it features the Brazilian manufacturer's Fuel Burn Improvement Package 2, as on their ninth airframe Gold (Fuji Dream's ninth Embraer E-Jet is Gold.). It boasts new wingtips and several other minor aerodynamic changes such as wheel caps and auxiliary power unit (APU) air inlet improvements, resulting in a 5.5% reduction in fuel burn. Other changes include new LED navigation lights.

Embraer ERJ170-200/STD (E175) JA10FJ Silver is greeted by Fuji Dream employees upon arrival at Nagoya's Komaki Airport on March 9th. (Photo: Fuji Dream Airlines)

The 84-seat aircraft departed São José dos Campos [SJK/SBSJ] on the same day and touched down at the airline's Nagoya/Komaki [NKM/RJNA] hub four days later on March 9th at 1552 JST, flying a similar route as their eighth (Fuji Dream Airlines receives eighth E-Jet 'Tea Green'.) and ninth airframes. On the way, it made stops at Natal [NAT/SBNT], Sal [SID/GVAC], Almeria [LEI/LEAM], Larnaca [LCA/LCLK], Dubai/Al Maktoum [DWC/OMDW], Kolkata/Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose [CCU/VECC], Can Tho [VCA/VVCT], and Kaohsiung [KHH/RCKH]. Total flight time was 32 hours and 40 minutes, traveling over 21,700 kilomters (13,500 miles).

The inaugural revenue flight for Silver took place on March 11th as JH355 from Komaki to Hanamaki [HNA/RJSI]. It flew the return leg to Komaki as JH356 and was then assigned to Kitakyushu [KKJ/RJFR] and back on flights JH407/408. While their ninth airframe was used to open up new markets to Izumo [IZO/RJOC] and Kitakyushu in March 2015 (Fuji Dream launches Izumo and Kitakyushu.), their 10th will be used to increase frequency in existing markets, with up to 34 daily round-trips scheduled, an increase from 29 for Summer 2015. It will also be utilized to increase its growing charter business, which accounted for 1,050 of Fuji Dream's flights in FY2015.

Summer 2016 Schedule Changes (effective Mar/27):
Komaki –  Aomori increase from 2 to 3 daily.
Komaki – Hanamaki increase from 3 to 4 daily.
Komaki – Izumo increase from 1 to 2 daily. (from Jul/1)
Komaki – Kochi increase from 1 to 2 daily.
Komaki – Yamagata increase from 1 to 2 daily.
Shizuoka – Kagoshima daily maintained. (3 weekly in Summer 2015)
Shizuoka – New Chitose NEW 5 weekly. (resumption)

Meanwhile, the Shizuoka-based regional carrier will be receiving its 11th E-Jet in June. Details regarding what roles it would play have not been officially released, however, President Yohei Suzuki has spoken of launching a base Nagoya/Chubu Centrair [NGO/RJGG], the newer and premier international airport serving the Chubu (Greater Nagoya) region, to launch midnight international charters to China, South Korea, and Taiwan, as well as start Chubu Centrair – Tokyo/Narita [NRT/RJAA] (Fuji Dream mulls Chubu – Narita and international charters.). The latter service would code-share with and feed overseas carriers flying into Narita, and Mr. Suzuki had admitted that discussions with multiple airlines are already taking place.

Source: Fuji Dream Airlines, 2016 January 20th. (in Japanese)
Source: Fuji Dream Airlines @ Facebook. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, 2016 March 9th. (in Japanese)

Monday, March 23, 2015

Fuji Dream's ninth Embraer E-Jet is Gold.

Fuji Dream Airlines [JH/FDA] took delivery of Embraer ERJ170-200/STD (E175) JA09FJ, their ninth aircraft, on March 19th. Painted and named Gold, it is Japan's first E-Jet featuring the Brazilian manufacturer's Fuel Burn Improvement Package 2, which boasts new wingtips and several other minor aerodynamic changes such as wheel caps and auxiliary power unit (APU) air inlet improvements, resulting in a 5.5% reduction in fuel burn. Other changes include new LED navigation lights.

Embraer ERJ170-200/STD (E175) JA09FJ Gold arrives at Komaki on delivery. (Photo: FDA)

The 84-seat aircraft departed São José dos Campos [SJK/SBSJ] on that day and arrived four days later today on March 23rd at their Nagoya/Komaki [NKM/RJNA] hub, flying a similar route as previous deliveries (Fuji Dream Airlines receives eighth E-Jet 'Tea Green'.) and making stops at Natal [NAT/SBNT], Espargos [SID/GVAC], Almeria [LEI/LEAM], Larnaca [LCA/LCLK], Dubai/Al Maktoum [DWC/OMDW], Kolkata/Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose [CCU/VECC], and Ho Chi Minh/Tan Son Nhat [SGN/VVTS].

It will enter service on March 25th on Komaki – Aomori [AOJ/RJSA] (flights JH361/362), Komaki – Kumamoto [KMJ/RJFT] (flights JH325/326), and Komaki – Hanamaki [HNA/RJSI] (flights JH357/358), while it will make its first appearance at the airline's Shizuoka [FSZ/RJNS] home base and Matsumoto [MMJ/RJAF] focus city on April 3rd.

Fuji Dream staff at Komaki welcome Gold. (Photo: FDA)

The addition of their ninth aircraft allows the niche regional carrier based at Nagoya's older but more convenient airport near downtown to launch daily Komaki – Izumo [IZO/RJOC] and twice-daily Komaki – Kitakyushu [KKJ/RJFR] services on March 29th, the beginning of the Summer 2015 timetable (Fuji Dream confirms Izumo and Kitakyushu.). Fuji Dream will take delivery of their 10th E-Jet in March 2016, however, it is considering basing the aircraft at Nagoya/Chubu Centrair [NGO/RJGG], the bigger but farther airport, due to the lack of parking space at Komaki.

Source: Fuji Dream Airlines, March 23rd. (in Japanese)

Monday, March 3, 2014

Fuji Dream Airlines receives eighth E-Jet 'Tea Green'.

Fuji Dream Airlines' (JH/FDA) took delivery of Embraer ERJ170-200/STD (E175) JA08FJ, their eighth aircraft, on February 27th. 'Tea Green' was chosen from a poll, which the airline regularly runs to decide the livery whenever a new aircraft is introduced. The color also pays tribute to Shizuoka prefecture, which is Japan's biggest green tea producer. JA08FJ departed São José dos Campos (SJK/SBSJ) on that day and arrived four days later today on March 3rd at the airline's home in Shizuoka (FSZ/RJNS), some 18,000 kilometers (11,200 miles) away.
Embraer staff and Fuji Dream's ferry flight crew pose with 'Tea Green' before departure from São José dos Campos. (Photo: FDA)

After leaving São José dos Campos at 1100 local time on February 28th, the 3,000 kilometer-range regional hauler made a refueling stop at Natal (NAT/SBNT), then crossing over the Atlantic to refuel again at Espargos (SID/GVAC), Cape Verde, and arrived at Almeria (LEI/LEAM), Spain for a night's stay. The following day, the aircraft flew to Dubai/Al Maktoum (DWC/OMDW) via a refueling stop at Larnaca (LCA/LCLK), Cyprus, before making a flight to Hong Kong (HKG/VHHH) via Kolkata/Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (CCU/VECC), India the day after that. On the fourth day, it made its final leg from Hong Kong to Shizuoka, arriving at 1420, local time, on March 3rd.
JA08FJ's ferry route spanning halfway around the globe. (Image: FDA)

Fuji Dream has been enthusiast-friendly, posting details along with photos about the ferry flight on their Facebook page. 'Tea Green' is planned to enter service on March 8th on flight JH141, service from Shizuoka to Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF). The addition of their eighth aircraft enables them to launch the new Nagoya/Komaki (NKM/RJNA) - Yamagata (GAJ/RJSC) route as well as increase frequencies to Aomori (AOJ/RJSA) and Hanamaki (HNA/RJSI) (Fuji Dream Airlines' Summer 2014 changes.), and fly more regional charters to 'experiment' which routes could be viable. The company's mission has been 'bridging communities to promote exchanges in people, products, economy, and culture'.
ERJ170-200/STD (E175) JA08FJ 'Tea Green' at Shizuoka after arrival. (Photo: FDA)

An article I've written on Fuji Dream Airlines is featured in the April 2014 issue of Airways magazine. Enjoy.

Source: Fuji Dream Airlines @ Facebook (in Japanese)